Google Maps brings Street View to Canada's Parliament

Today, Canada’s capital opens its doors to Google Maps. From the floor of the House of Commons and the Red Chamber of the Senate, to the Library of Parliament and the Prime Minister’s Office, the Street View Trolley is making its way through the hallowed halls of Parliament, mapping this iconic landmark of Canadian history and culture for all Canadians to enjoy and explore.

The Google Trolley rolls through the hallways of Parliament.

The Google Trolley rolls through the hallways of Parliament.

Through the main doors of Parliament, Google Maps users will be able to virtually walk down the Hall of Honour, visit the Memorial Chamber and take the elevator to the top of the Peace Tower. Or, hang a left in Confederation Hall and stroll past portraits of Canada’s former prime ministers to the foyer of the House of Commons, where the media scrum MPs and ministers before going into the House.

Parliament stands at the heart of our democracy. Through these images, people across the world will be able to see the places where our laws are debated and the chambers where senators and MPs come together to represent every Canadian. Users will have behind-the-scenes access to tour working offices and explore the iconic art, architecture and history of an institution that serves as the backdrop for Canadian politics.

To take Street View technology indoors, we developed a small push-cart, lovingly dubbed Trolley. It has been used in places such as galleries and museums with minimal disruption and ensuring the safety of all exhibits. The Trolley is outfitted with a few components that are key to collecting indoor imagery: a panoramic camera to collect 360-degree views, motion sensors to track Trolley’s position, a hard drive to store data, and an onboard computer to operate the system. With this adapted equipment, we were able to gather imagery and bring it into Google Maps. You can now drag "Pegman" directly onto fascinating places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the White House.

Aside from Parliament Hill, Canadians will soon have the opportunity to visit the interiors of other Canadian landmarks, from Calgary's Saddledome and BC Place, to the historic battlements of Quebec City and Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum.